Explosion at Chinese port injures 300, kills 13

A massive explosion shook the northern Chinese city of Tianjin late Wednesday, killing seven and injuring about 50 people, according to state media.

The official China Daily says the explosion occurred in a warehouse for risky materials, and that the logistics company running the warehouse had proper approval for the business.

The official Xinhua News agency said an initial explosion triggered other blasts at nearby businesses.

The explosions are said to have sent shockwaves several kilometres away, with the China natural disaster Networks Centre reporting that the magnitude of the first explosion was the equivalent to the detonation of three tonnes of TNT, while the second equivalent of 21 tonnes.

Photos apparently taken by bystanders and circulating online on microblogs show a enormous fireball high in the sky, with a mushroom-cloud.

State broadcaster CCTV says six battalions of firefighters had brought the ensuing fire under control, although it was still burning. Four firefighters were injured and two more have lost contact, the ministry said.